Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to treat a wide variety of health disorders. A hyperbaric oxygen pressure chamber has an air pressure that is elevated to about two and a half times the normal pressure in the air, notes MedlinePlus. This treatment raises the oxygen levels circulating in the blood. Oxygen therapy will be used in a single session or in ongoing sessions for treatment of chronic conditions.
Treat Decompression Illness
Oxygen therapy is used to remedy a decompression illness episode, notes MedlinePlus. Decompression can occur during scuba diving. The scuba diver would then be airlifted or rushed via ambulance to the nearest hospital that has a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for treatment. Usually one long session of oxygen therapy will remedy decompression sickness.
Help Infants with Heart & Lung Issues
Babies with heart and lung problems are treated with oxygen therapy, report FloridaHealthFinder.gov. This treatment will help the overall ability to breathe and can be administered via an oxygen hood, a nasal cannula, a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or with a ventilator.
Heal Infected Wounds
Oxygen therapy works to heal infected wounds. It typically will help speed up the healing rate of a wound to ensure that the infection does not progress or fester. Necrotizing soft tissue injuries are often treated with oxygen therapy, notes MedlinePlus.
Osteomyelitis Treatment
When a bone infection (osteomyelitis) is stubborn and not responding to treatment, oxygen therapy is used to cure the infection. This therapy helps to save limbs and ensure that the infection is quelled before causing further damage.
Heal Foot Ulcers
Oxygen therapy is useful to treat non-healing ulcers that occur with diabetes mellitus. If a foot ulcer is chronic, oxygen therapy is used, notes the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The oxygen treatment is often used after other treatments have failed.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Treatment
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly without rapid treatment. Oxygen therapy is used to treat this illness, notes Medline Plus. With this treatment, the body is cleared of the carbon monoxide toxin via emergency oxygen therapy.
Heal Radiation Injury
An injury due to radiation treatment does rarely occur during radiation treatments for cancer. This problem is treated with oxygen therapy. This therapy for a radiation injury can be done just once or on an ongoing basis for more problematic injuries.
